Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.
Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-2309.
When last we saw Paul McCartney, the former Beatle stood onstage at MGM Grand Garden, eyes welling up as he dedicated "Here Today" to John Lennon.
Less than two months later it appears that moment might have told only half the story about Sir Paul's relationship with his fallen mate.
Despite a long-standing tradition of crediting the duo's Beatles' compositions to "Lennon/McCartney," McCartney recently listed "Paul McCartney & John Lennon" as the authors of 19 Beatles' songs -- numbers McCartney insists he primarily composed -- on his latest live album, "Back in the U.S."
Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, reportedly briefly considered legal action in response to the switch. And as much as I hate to side with Ono -- whom many consider the figure most responsible for The Beatles' 1970 breakup -- I have to stand with her on this one.
In a statement issued Wednesday, McCartney said there was "no need for anybody to get their knickers in a twist" over the issue.
The closest thing to an official explanation about why he wants to put his name before Lennon's came in a Rolling Stone magazine interview last year, in which he complained about Beatles "revisionism" that had fans assuming Lennon had actually penned most of the Fab Four's classics.
I have to wonder just how many concerts McCartney needs to sell out worldwide before the 60-year-old rock legend will finally realize his adoring public fully appreciates his contributions to popular music.
"Lennon/McCartney" has been the gold standard in rock 'n' roll songwriting for more than three decades. Tinkering with that dynamic now only clouds the pair's impact, throwing into question whether the two truly collaborated on all of their work.
Most importantly, it's downright petty for McCartney to revise the songwriting credits so far down the road. Dead more than 20 years, Lennon is hardly in a position to debate the issue.
Music notes
Enter the Wu-Tang: Several hip-hop websites reported rumors that rapper GZA (aka Genius) had mysteriously disappeared this week. Never fear. The Wu-Tang Clan co-founder is alive and well, performing to a crowd of about 250 Tuesday night at Blue Note Las Vegas.
The show actually turned into a mini-Wu-Tang reunion, as DJ Mathematics and rapper Masta Killa from the East Coast hip-hop supergroup joined GZA (pronounced "Jizah") onstage. Also on hand were Wu-Tang disciples Armel and Dreddy Kruger.
GZA is promoting his latest solo album, "Legend of the Liquid Sword." Masta Killa, considered the quietest member of Wu-Tang, is preparing to release his first solo project.
The crew opened its set with long-distance shout-outs to absent Wu-Tang mates Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, along with a plea for authorities to free incarcerated Wu-Tang co-founder Ol' Dirty Bastard, in prison on charges of cocaine possession.
Phish phans phlock: After a two-year hiatus, popular jam band Phish sold out all of its announced 2003 tour dates on Saturday, including Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 shows at Thomas & Mack Center.
Out of 18,000 seats for each Las Vegas show, 9,000 for each night were pre-sold through the group's direct fan mail order process. On Saturday the remaining 9,000 general-admission tickets per concert sold out in 75 minutes, 56 percent through UNLVtickets.com, 19 percent over the phone, 13 percent at the T&M box office and 12 percent at ticket outlets, according to T&M publicist Windy Lawson.
Phish, which is slated to return to the stage for a New Year's Eve show in New York City and a three-concert run Jan. 2 through Jan. 4 in Hampton, Va., joined former Vice President Al Gore on "Saturday Night Live" last weekend. The quartet played "46 Days" off their new album, "Round Room," and longtime fan favorite "Chalkdust Torture."
Last to know? Though Guns N' Roses canceled its remaining tour dates last week, as of Thursday Mandalay Bay's marquee along I-15 still advertised the group's once-scheduled Dec. 28 appearance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Might be time to change the sign.
Yanni, anyone?
On sale
Tickets for two upcoming shows at the Huntridge Theatre go on sale Saturday at noon. Punk band Beautiful Mistake plays Jan. 13 with Glasseater, while pop group Further Seems Forever performs Feb. 22 with Elliott, Openhand and Beautiful Mistake opening. Tickets are $10 for both shows and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations and at Balcony Lights on Maryland Parkway near Tropicana Avenue.
The Huntridge will also make a limited number of tickets to punk band AFI's Jan. 24 concert available Saturday at Balcony Lights at noon. The show's initial run sold out in 30 minutes last weekend, and pairs of tickets had been bid as high as $213 on ebay.com by midweek.
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